Wilco sells out to Corporate America

Is anybody else slightly bothered that Wilco has sold its soul to Volkswagen? They are good commercials -- they're airing like every break during the British Open coverage this morning -- but isn't this the band that once broke a record deal simply out of spite for the corporate suits? Now, they're the soundtrack for mediocre European cars? I don't get it.

You know, I think I saw that ad the other day, heard the song and was like "Is that Jeff Tweedy? No, couldn't be."
Too bad.
I'd note that, a few years ago, the State of Illinois used 'War on War' in some tourism commercial. Is selling out to Rod Blagojevich that much worse than selling out to a German carmaker?

You know, I think I saw that ad the other day, heard the song and was like "Is that Jeff Tweedy? No, couldn't be."
Too bad.
I'd note that, a few years ago, the State of Illinois used 'War on War' in some tourism commercial. Is selling out to Rod Blagojevich that much worse than selling out to a German carmaker?

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Actually, there's a series of four or five VW commercials, and each one is based on a different song from the new Wilco album, "Sky Blue Sky"

I have no problem. It's not like they have chance in hell of getting on the radio these days, so how is anyone going to get to hear them? I'd love to for Wilco to be as successful as some of these shitty medicore acts Clear Channel mass markets to the masses.

Good for them to try and get their music out there. I got over my youthful "sellout" self-righteouness years ago.

I don't have a problem with it at all, especially since Tweedy has basically given his blessing to anyone interested to steal their music off the web. He wants the music to be heard, knows corporate radio won't play it, and figures why not put it out there any way possible? And it's not like the broke out of a record deal to spite anyone; Reprise records basically refused to release YHF. The only way to get the record heard was to buy it back and sell it to someone else ... which turned out to be just another division of Warner Music.

Here is their explanation from their web site for those up in arms:

As many of you are aware, Volkswagen has recently begun running a series of TV commercials featuring Wilco music.

Why? This is a subject we've discussed internally many times over the years regarding movies, TV shows and even the odd advertisement. With the commercial radio airplay route getting more difficult for many bands (including Wilco); we see this as another way to get the music out there. As with most of the above (with the debatable exception of radio) the band gets paid for this. And we feel okay about VWs. Several of us even drive them.

If you're keeping track, this is not the first time Wilco has licensed a song to or even been involved in a commercial -- most recently a TV spot for Telefonica Mobile in Spain used a Wilco song and some years prior Jeff Tweedy appeared in a campaign for Apple Computer. Wilco have licensed hundreds of songs to television shows and films worldwide... from festival-only indie films to major motion pictures and weekly TV shows.

Thus far the songs in the VW campaign are "The Thanks I Get" (a bonus track from Sky Blue Sky sessions, available for download via the Enhanced CD and via iTunes) and "You are my Face". We expect to have more details re: other songs shortly. The current plan (subject to change, like everything) is for 5 or 6 songs to be used.

How dare they try and make money off their music, which otherwise has only a cultish following among primarily music snobs.

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Game, set and match.

I don't get it when people rag on Pearl Jam about deliberately selling fewer albums and I don't get it when people rag on bands like Wilco for trying to make more money.

I get pretty disgusted when anti-capitalist anthems from the 1960's are recycled into jingles, and I get perplexed when something like Iggy Pop's Lust for Life shows up on a commercial, but I can't fault Wilco here.

VW performed a public service a few years back by letting the world know about Nick Drake through a commercial.
I thought the Wilco VW commercials have been very good. I, as an apparent music snob, don't think that the exposure is a bad thing. If more people listen, that's fine with me.
Should I slam Son Volt for doing a cover of that Beatles song for the soccer commercial?
Nope.
Good music doesn't have to be a secret.